Who is a urologist?
Urologists actively diagnose, treat, and research illnesses that impact organs encompassed by the field of urology. Urology, a medical and surgical specialty, focuses on diseases affecting the male reproductive system and female urinary tracts. Urologists demonstrate knowledge, skill, and understanding of organs that form the male reproductive system and the male and female urinary tract system– Namely, the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, adrenal glands, penis, prostate, and testicles. Besides urology, urologists hold knowledge of internal medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and other parts of human health care.
To become a urologist, one must follow these steps:
- Obtain a bachelor's degree.
- Clear the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and gain admission into a medical school.
- Complete a four-year medical school program.
- Participate in a five to six-year residency program that provides comprehensive training in surgical and medical approaches for urologic diseases.
- Consider completing a fellowship program, which can last from one to three additional years, to specialize in a narrower field within urology.
- Opt for board certification from the American Board of Urology after completing the residency program.
- Pass the state medical examination and adhere to any guidelines established by the medical board to obtain a medical license.
What is general urology?
General urology deals with several urological conditions experienced by male and female patients. Although some urology disorders may begin early during the teenage years by actively participating in sports, they continue to affect men and women throughout the many adult life stages. Activities and events involving running or constant jumping, such as basketball, may trigger stress incontinence. Often, incontinence is prevalent after childbirth, when pelvic floor muscles become weak. Some common medical problems under the scope of general urology are as follows:
- Urinary incontinence: It is the loss of one's bladder control. Its severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine while coughing or sneezing to having a sudden and strong urge to urinate.
- Reflex incontinence: The detrusor muscle spasms cause a sudden loss of urine, known as reflex incontinence. It is associated with neurological factors that affect signaling between the brain and the bladder.
- Stress incontinence: A stressor such as laughing, sneezing, lifting, coughing, or exercising triggers stress incontinence. It may also appear after childbirth due to weakened pelvic floor muscles.
- Functional incontinence: Functional incontinence happens when an individual is functionally unable to get to the bathroom in time. It can result from limited mobility due to a disease state or aging.
- Overflow incontinence: This happens when the bladder is full, causing urine to overflow involuntarily.
- Overactive bladder (OAB): OAB is a condition that causes a strong and sudden need to urinate, which can be hard to manage. It can lead to frequent urination during both day and night and may also result in involuntary urine leakage (urgency incontinence).
- Urinary tract infection (UTI): This infection may occur in any area of the urinary system.
- Kidney, bladder, or ureteral stones: When a stone develops in the kidney, it is a solid mass or crystal that can have an irregular shape and vary in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Small stones can cause severe pain when they pass through the urinary tract.
- Bladder cancer: It is a rare form of cancer that originates in the bladder's lining.
- Kidney cancer: It is the growth of abnormal cells in the kidney tissue, which eventually form a tumor.
Male urology
Male urology is a specialization under urology that covers a variety of urological conditions unique to men– be it testicular cancer diagnosis or treatment to help men become fathers. We have listed below some common male urology conditions:
- Hydrocele
- Varicocele
- Male infertility
- Premature ejaculation
- Penile cancer
- Testicular cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Erectile dysfunction
- Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate)
- Vasectomy
Testicular cancer most commonly affects male teens and young adults. If you are a man or have a male child, we highly recommend scheduling regular visits to a urologist.
Female urology
Female urology covers a group of urological conditions most commonly experienced by women. While some states are common in male patients, others are unique to female patients. Female urology issues can arise at any time during a woman's life cycle, in her teenage years, during participating in sports, or through their child-bearing and pre-and post-menopause years. We have listed below some common female urology issues:
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Urinary tract infections (UTI)
- Interstitial cystitis (IC) or chronic pelvic pain
- Female sexual dysfunction
Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when pelvic tissue and muscles cannot support the pelvic organs. It causes the pelvic organs, namely the vagina, cervix, uterus, bladder, urethra, and rectum, to drop (also known as prolapse) from their normal position.
- A cystocele occurs when the bladder protrudes out of the vagina.
- Rectocele occurs when the rectum protrudes out of the vagina.
- Enterocele occurs when the small intestine (bowel) protrudes from the vagina.
- Urethrocele occurs when the urethra protrudes out of the vagina.
- Cystourethrocele occurs when both the bladder and urethra protrude out of the vagina.
- Uterine prolapse happens when the uterus protrudes out of the vagina.
- Vaginal vault prolapse occurs after a hysterectomy.
Self-diagnosing pelvic organ prolapse is complicated. We highly recommend consulting a urologist for a proper diagnosis.
What should you expect from a visit with a urologist near you?
Before visiting a urologist, it's crucial to prepare yourself and clearly explain the reason for your consultation. It could be helpful to list questions or symptoms to bring with you. You'll also need to be prepared to discuss your medical history and any medications you're taking.
Your urologist will probably ask for some tests to identify your condition and establish the most suitable course of treatment. These tests may include a physical exam. For males, their doctor may conduct a rectal examination, whereas for females, a pelvic exam may be required.
Furthermore, your healthcare provider may ask you to provide urine, blood, or semen samples for urinalysis, blood tests, and semen analysis. Your urologist may also order imaging tests, such as ultrasound or CT (computed tomography) scans.
Urinary tract infections
Urinary tract infections (UTI) can affect any organ of the urinary system. However, most infections happen in the lower urinary tract, involving the urethra and bladder. This happens when bacteria near the rectum enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract. These infections can also affect multiple organs in the urinary system. Bladder infection is the most prevalent type of UTI. Kidney infection or pyelonephritis is less common but more severe than bladder infections.
Risk factors:
UTIs can affect anyone at any age. Women are more susceptible to such infections than men. Their urethra is smaller and much closer to the rectum, making it easy for the bacteria to enter the urinary tract. Factors that increase the chances of UTIs include the following:
- Sexual activity
- History of UTI
- Bacterial changes in the vaginal area or vaginal flora due to spermicide use or menopause
- Pregnancy
- Poor hygiene
- Structural abnormalities such as enlarged prostate
- Age (young children and older adults are more susceptible to UTIs)
Symptoms:
The various signs or symptoms include the following:
- Burning sensation while urinating
- Strong urge to urinate despite an empty bladder
- Cloudy urine
- Frequent urination and passing small quantities of urine
- Strong smelling urine
- Urine appears bright pink or red - signs of blood in the urine
- Pelvic pain around the pubic bone among women
Seek a urologist near you immediately if you experience any of the above symptoms. If untreated, UTIs could cause severe health complications.
Prevention:
Urinary tract infections are a preventable condition. Here are a few recommendations:
- Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated
- Urinate after sexual activity
- Keep your private parts clean and dry
- Teach young children good hygiene practices during potty training
- Minimize the use of powders, sprays, or douches in the genital area
Prostate cancer screening
Types:
Prostate cancer screening aims to detect the cancer before symptoms appear. Doctors might use multiple tests and often combine them. These include:
- Prostate-specific antigen test: Your body produces a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA) from the prostate. Doctors can measure the level of PSA in your blood through a simple test. Increased PSA levels can be an early sign of prostate cancer. However, high PSA levels can also indicate noncancerous conditions, so doctors cannot rely solely on PSA levels to diagnose prostate cancer. Additional testing and examination are necessary to confirm or eliminate the possibility of prostate cancer.
- Digital exam: A digital rectal exam (DRE) is a physical examination that helps doctors assess your prostate gland's health. In a prostate exam, a urologist checks the prostate gland by inserting a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum. This exam helps detect any unusual growths or enlarged areas on your prostate that could be a sign of cancer.
- Prostate cancer gene 3 RNA test: Doctors can analyze a urine test for prostate cancer gene 3 (PCA3), which is more abundant in prostate cancer cells but is not affected by many other prostate conditions.
- Secondary screenings: It's possible to get a false positive result from a screening. So, to confirm your diagnosis, doctors may need to perform a biopsy. However, biopsies come with their risks. The doctor may suggest a secondary screening first to avoid an unnecessary biopsy. This could involve diagnostic imaging, like an MRI or a transrectal ultrasound.
Interpreting the results:
Healthcare professionals use nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL) to measure PSA test results. If your PSA is more than 2.5 ng/mL, you might be at high risk of prostate cancer. A result of 4 ng/mL or higher requires further testing. However, it's important to note that PSA test results can vary from person to person and are not definitive.
Doctors use a score to give PCA3 results. Typically, a score of 35 or more indicates the need for further testing, but not all experts agree on this cutoff.
If you have a DRE result, your doctor can explain their interpretation. A healthy prostate should have a rubbery but firm texture and a smooth surface. It should not be sensitive to touch.
Best urologists near you in Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Being clueless and uninformed when choosing healthcare providers for your condition could be dangerous. Zocdoc helps you receive the best available treatment by connecting you with the top urologists in Boston, Massachusetts.
Our comprehensive urology directory provides access to your location's top-rated and experienced urologists. Urologists listed on Zocdoc from your area, Boston, Massachusetts, are licensed by the American Board of Urology. All doctor profiles on Zocdoc are verified and updated to assist you in making an informed decision from the comfort of your home.
Choose from thousands of doctors based on patient ratings, patient reviews, and the doctor's education, clinical interests and specializations, practice history, and certifications.
All you need to do is include 'urologists' in your search query and choose from the top urologists in your area. You can select multiple doctors for second opinions on your diagnosis or treatment. Once you choose the best urologists for your unique case, Zocdoc will instantly assist you in booking an appointment for your first session.
You can use Zocdoc's insurance card capture feature to submit your medical insurance information before your appointment. Your insurance card information will be completely secure with Zocdoc as they prioritize your privacy and security and follow the industry's best practices to safeguard your information. You can read more about how Zocdoc handles data and privacy and check out Zocdoc's patient help center for answers to any further insurance-related queries.
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Prevalence of prostate cancer and urinary bladder cases in Boston, Massachusetts
According to the Boston Public Health Commission, prostate cancer has emerged as the most lethal malignancy in African American men in Massachusetts.
Survey results from the Massachusetts Cancer Registry (MCR) and the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition found prostate cancer the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Massachusetts men. Urinary bladder cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Massachusetts men. About 25.4% of all cancer cases among Massachusetts men between 2009 and 2013 were prostate cancer, while 7.6% were urinary bladder cases.
Between 2009 and 2013, Prostate cancer caused approximately 9.4% of all cancer deaths in Massachusetts men, ranking second in mortality from cancer for Massachusetts men. In 2019, the Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition estimated that over one in seven Massachusetts men would be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
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Cleveland Clinic
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Mayo Clinic
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Mass.gov
Massachusetts Prostate Cancer Coalition
